Sustainable dive tourism: Social and environmental impacts — The case of Roatan, Honduras

The rapidly expanding coral diving tourism and the associated residential and commercial development exert a considerable pressure on the ecological and social fabric of Roatan, Honduras, and in particular on coral reefs and on mangroves. Due to its strong reliance on healthy and attractive coral reefs, the tourism sector on Roatan is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This article examines past and current development paths and management efforts on Roatan and proposes avenues in order to achieve sustainable development of the tourism sector while safeguarding ecosystem quality. Integrated coastal zone management, a whole ecosystem approach and the recognition of the importance of social aspects for the success of management tools such as marine protected areas can greatly contribute to that goal.